Improvement in cartridges



l. M. MILBANK.

improvement in Cartridge.

No. 115,498, Patented May 30,1871.

UNITED STATES PATENT lMPROVEMENT' IN CARTRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 115,498, dated May 30,1871, antcdated May 26, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC M. MILBANK, of Greenfield Hill, in the countyof Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement inCartridges for Fire-Arms; and the following is declared to be a correctdescription thereof.

Cartridge-eases have been made of wood, and the ball itself has beenplaced in a wooden cup. In the first-named instance the case remained inthe gun, and in the other instance the cup was either difficult toseparate from the ball or else did not act to keep the ball central inthe gun and clean out the barrel. In some of the devices before employedthe ball is diverted from its course frequently by the cup as it isseparated. Cases have also been made for grape-shot and small balls.

My invention consists in a hollow cylindrical case, of wood or similarmaterial, with .a daring or conical end, forming an ed ge for cleaningthe barrel and separating the case from the ball after it leaves thebarrel, in combination with a rigid wad between the powder and the saidball and. cylinder, whereby the ball and cylinder are propelled togetheras they are projected, and then the wad and cylinder drop off withoutinterfering with the ilight of the ball.

The powder-space is separated by a tight wad or diaphragm, and this istorn, bent, or

.cut in its forward movement, and allows fire to pass from, the rearpart of the powder to the forward portion, where quicker firing-powdermay be used to accelerate the ball after .it has been started by thefirst part of the explosion.

In the drawing, Figure l is a longitudinal section of my cartridge,complete. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a separatesection of the cylindrical ball-case.

The ball d fits closely within the cylinder 0, of wood or similarmaterial, (such as paper- -pulp,) and longitudinal incisions may be madeto facilitate the splitting or separation of thecylinder from the ballafter leaving the barrel. When hard wood or paper is used for thecylinder the incisions are, by preference, employed. The forward end ofthe cylinder e is formed conically, so that there may be an edge forcleaning the barrel of the gun as the cylinder and ball are projected.This edge also acts to throw off the cylinder after leaving the gun.Lubricating material may also be introduced in the space thus formed.The wad or sabott'is made of a size and shape to tit against the backend of the ball at and the cylinder 6 for the purposes aforesaid. Theforward end of the cylinder 0 may be notched to allow some portions toact in cleaning the barrel, while the notches allow the lubricatingmaterial to pass to the outside of the cylinder. One solid ball orseveral long balls or slugs may be introduced in each wooden cylinder e.The powderspace in the cartridge is divided up into sections a b bymeans of a wad or diaphragm, c. This is to fit tightly and prevent iircfrom the powder in the section to reaching that in 1) until the forwardportion of the charge has commenced to move by the explosion in a, whenthe wad c is caught by the projections 0 0, on the inside of thecartridge case or barrel, that cut, tear, or

bend said wad sufficiently to allow tire to.

reach the section I) and accelerate the speed of the ball.

Quick powder can be used in the section 1) without risk from recoil, andthe velocity of the ball will be increased.

I do not claim, broadly, a sectional can tridge, as that has been used.

I claim as my invention 1. The cylindrical case, of wood or similarmaterial, receiving the ball, and made with a conical end and edge forcleaning the barrel, in combination with the rigid wad introduced in thecartridgecase between the powder and said ball and cylinder, as and forthe purposes specified.

2. The projections 0 0, combined with the sectional charge a b and wada, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed by me this 22d day of October, A.

D. 1870. I. M. MILBANK.

Witnesses:

HAROLD SERRELL, Gno. T. PrNcKNnY.

rrron.

